Google Issues Cease and Desist Letter to Android ROM Modder
Google Issues Cease and Desist Letter to Android ROM Modder
Posted 09/25/2009 at 11:00am
| by Paul Lilly
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According to Taylor Wimberly of AndroidAndMe.com, uber popular Android hacker who goes by the name of Cyanogen managed to ruffle some feathers over at Google. From the sound of things, the search giant is none too pleased with Cyanogen distributing their closed source Android apps (Market, Talk, Gmail, YouTube, and others) with his third-party CyanogenMod ROM.
Going by the chat log Wimberly posted on his site, Google has issued a cease and desist letter to Cyanogen, who laments that "CyanogenMod is probably going to be dead." It would be a shame if it came to that, as CyanogenMod is probably the most popular third-party Android ROM out there, and is actively being developed, somewhat of a rarity in the Android ROM community whose only compensation is user donations.
But all might not be lost. Cyanogen said he has opened up a dialog with Google.
"My argument is that I only develop for Google-experience devices which are already licensed for these apps," said Cyanogen. "So we'll see what they say. Maybe we can work something out."
So do we. Otherwise, this could be a blow to the entire Android ROM community, not just Cyanogen.
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neo1piv14
September 25, 2009 at 12:55pm
As a user of the Cyanogen mod, I'd say Google needs to lighten up and cut this guy a check. If I couldn't run this guy's firmware, I'd probably switch back to another phone. The original OS that came on this phone was kind of slow to begin with, but feels like running in syrup compared to how speedy this guy's ROM is. I'd be interested to see what wouuld happen if Google had some developers with the talent and fan base that this guy has.
marshallladd
September 25, 2009 at 1:11pm
Took the words out of my mouth. Cyanogen's ROMs are the best. His experimental one rightnow, 4.1.11.1, is beyond phenominal. This would really be a hit to the Android community if he had to stop. I wouldn't consider an Android phone again because of it. I may have to cross over to the dark side and get a jailbroken iPhone(shudders).
gymbeau2000
September 25, 2009 at 12:03pm
Yean it's like Open-Source (tm). From MS, I would expect this, but it seems lately, the Big G is getting alot more protective.
SEALBoy
September 25, 2009 at 10:56am
Both this article and the G1 Hack Guide repeatedly refer to Cyanogen as Cyanongen. Please proofread!
AntiHero
September 25, 2009 at 10:20am
That's a little upsetting. Almost sounds like "Our open source is copyrighted" however they do have a case. But Cyanogen also does, since he is intending it all for the phones it was originally created for.
I don't like Microsoft, I associate with it.
SEALBoy
September 25, 2009 at 10:56am
Yes, it certainly is disappointing considering Google touted Android as open-source.
Tekzel
September 25, 2009 at 1:37pm
Well, its not the OS they are complaining about, its the closed source addon stuff. A company has to protect their rights or they lose them. I understand where they are coming from. I hope they can work something out with the guy though, apparently he is doing some outstanding work.
I Jedi
September 25, 2009 at 7:18pm
Agreed, it's not the OS they're upset about, it's the closed-source addons... However, for this guy to have to stop his development on the Android platform would be a major blow. Google should work something out witih him, rather than shaft a great project happening in the Android community.
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